which form of macular degeneration is more serious? l was recently diagnosed with the dry form of macular degeneration. is this form more or less likely to cause vision loss or other problems than the wet form?

Question

What are dry and wet macular degeneration?

Answer 1

Macular : Macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of vision loss in the elderly population. The two types are the wet type, and the dry form. The dry is considered less severe and less aggressive than the wet form.

Answer 2

This : This is actually an interesting question. The answer is that both forms cause vision loss. Dry mac degen causes a slow progression, so this is better in some ways. On the other hand, there is no treatment for the dry form, so the end result may be very severe loss of vision. Wet md causes a more sudden loss of vision due to bleeding or swelling. There is treatment, in the form of injected medications, that can halt the progression, and in 50% of patients may actually cause some improvement!

Answer 3

Yes, : Yes, the dry type is more benign than the wet type. Thus less likely to cause vision loss.

Answer 4

Both : Both dry and wet forms of amd can cause vision loss. Dry amd is usually slowly progressive and can eventually cause vision loss as geographic atrophy develops over a number of years. Wet amd can cause severe vision loss very quickly (in a number of weeks or months) through the formation of abnormal leaky blood vessels and must be treated promptly to prevent further vision loss. The good news is that there are therapies for wet amd that are 95% effective in preventing vision loss and can actually improve vision in 30-40% of patients.

Answer 5

Older age: Macular degeneration is mostly a condition of old age. There are a few inherited forms that can start in the 40's and 50's but most do not appear until the 70's and beyond. The risk is modest but increases with age. Some forms can be modified with treatment so see your retinal specialist if you suspect a problem.

Answer 6

50 years: Generally beginning at age 50 at the earliest. There is a strong inherited component; exposure to tobacco also increases risk.

Answer 7

Their : Their are different types of macular degeneration. The most aggressive kind, wet macular degeneration, can present with sudden changes in vision. The "slow" variety or dry macular degeneration can take many years to progress.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, : Unfortunately, there is no average. Some forms of mac degen never cause any significant damage at all. Your doctor should discuss the use of multivitamins with you, because a very large american study (the areds study) showed a benefit to certain specific combinations of nutritional supplements.

Answer 9

It : It depends on the type and the stage of macular degeneration. There is a dry type and a wet type. Dry type progress slowly and may never result in a vision loss. However the wet type progress much faster and often result in vision loss. Even with the wet type, there are aggressive type that progress faster with vision loss in couple years and mild type that may take 10 years or more. Also, the stage of your condition is important, if you are in an early stage then you have more time then patients who are in there late stage. I hope that helps.

Answer 10

Over many years: Macular degeneration is a slowly progressive condition. In the absence of "wei" disease, vision changes start as delayed recovery of vision from bright light, then needing more and moe light to see/read, and eventually progressive decline in visual acuity. For poor vision to develop from the earliest signs is usually decades. At any time, a patient can develop wet disease, needing treatment.

which form of macular degeneration is more serious? l was recently diagnosed with the dry form of macular degeneration. is this form more or less likely to cause vision loss or other problems than the wet form?

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